News

University of Sydney presents Sydney Film Festival International Documentaries

By Kate Mayor

8 May 2014

After a successful collaboration with Sydney Film Festival(SFF) last year, our Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is delighted to build on our continuing sponsorship of this key cultural event in 2014 by becoming presenting partner of the International Documentary Series.

With a shared commitment to the big ideas that affect our world, this collaboration will see the University sponsoring the whole suite of 34 films that make up this innovative and thought-provoking series, in the festival that runs from June 4-15.

Highlights among the documentaries include At Berkeley, grandmaster of documentary Frederick Wiseman's look at the diverse world of an elite university, Dinosaur 13, an intriguing investigation into the FBI seizure of the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex remains ever found, and E-Team, a look into the role of Human Rights Watch investigators.

The University of Sydney will be on display in a special short clip that will be shown at the beginning of these films, and our flagship film presentation will be the Thursday 5 June screening of The Unknown Known, a documentary on the former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, by renowned filmmaker Errol Morris.

SFF Director Nashen Moodley announced the 2014 program to a packed room at Customs House yesterday morning and noted some of the benefits of experiencing film in this public forum.

"SFF not only presents the best films from across the country and around the world but we also open up dialogue between the creators and audiences and curators and critics alike, in every direction and combination, " said Moodley.

"Together in a crowded theatre, comedies are funnier, horror films are scarier and tender moments bring tears more readily; everything we feel is amplified by the power of the shared experience."

Keep an eye out for the official SFF program in the Sydney Morning Herald this Saturday, and to secure tickets, which are on sale now, visit sff.org.au

For news, reviews and more details about the University of Sydney's involvement in Sydney Film Festival, visit our micro-site.